INFLUENCE OF STARCH-RICH FEEDSTUFFS ON DI GESTIBILITY AND ENERGY CONTENT OF MAIZE SILAGE IN CATTLE AND SHEEP

Different starch components were added to rations with maize silage me asuring the influence of the supplements on the digestibility and ener gy content of maize silage in cattle (n = 36) and sheep (n = 36). The starch-rich components maize, wheat, barley, oat, cassava meal and pot atoe starch were added to the total rations on average of 33%. All sup plements were ground (sieve of 2.5 mm), additionally, wheat was added in extruded or crushed form. All rations including the control ration without starch components were supplemented with soybean meal to an av erage crude protein content of 12.4% DM. The mean starch content of th e total rations was 42% DM. The supplementation of maize silage with t he different starch components increased the digestibility of the orga nic matter of all rations on average only slightly from 77% to 78% in cattle, while the mean digestibility in sheep rised from 74% to 79% mo re pronounced. However, the influence of the different starch componen ts on the digestibility was similiar for both ruminants. The supplemen tation with the ground, crushed or extruded wheat, with barley and wit h oats impaired the digestibility of the crude fibre of the total rati on and of the maize silage, respectively. Therefore, the digestibility of the organic matter of maize silage was reduced and the energy cont ent decreased by about 6% in comparison to the control ration without starch supplementation. However, the supplementation with maize, cassa va meal or potatoe starch had no negative effects on the digestiblity and energy content of maize.